Uganda (MNN) — A nonprofit board typically oversees an organization’s strategy, finances, and operations. A recent trip to Uganda introduced Wycliffe USA board members to the Bible translators they support.
“Two translators I interacted with, a fisherman and a farmer, said they’d never touched a computer before that week.”
(Photo courtesy of Wycliffe USA)
“This was a board vision trip to visit our partners and look into three different Bible translation projects in various stages, and we were looking at how [translations were] being used by the churches,” Wycliffe USA board chair Lindsay Olesberg says.
“Boards are functioning at a pretty high vision level, so we’ve heard about the different processes before, but to see them face-to-face and see who the end user is [strengthened] our confidence in the quality of the translations.”
The advisors also examined a new approach gaining ground in places like Uganda – Oral Bible Translation. Olesberg and other members of the Wycliffe USA board observed an Oral Bible Translation workshop.
“Six different minority language communities come together – eight members from each community – at a centralized place for a three-week training event. During that time, they are recording Luke 1-6 in their mother tongue,” Olesberg explains.
“It was quite remarkable to see that process and the way that technology enables people, who may not even have a high school education, to be involved in Bible translation.”
When individuals completed the training, “not only had they learned how to use the computer, the recording software, and whatnot, but they were intimately involved in bringing the Scripture to their own people in their own language,” she continues.
“Two translators I interacted with, a fisherman and a farmer, said they’d never touched a computer before that week.”
Wycliffe USA partners with 1,200 churches, mission organizations, and like-minded ministries worldwide to see people encounter Jesus through Scripture in a language and format they clearly understand. More about that here.
“Wycliffe USA is a primary funding partner for these kinds of projects all around the world. It matters to us to see how the money was spent. What impact is it having?” Olesberg says.
“The rest of the board and I came away with great confidence that project funding is having the desired effects, both in terms of Scripture being translated in a way that’s accurate and natural and that churches are being built up in the process.”
Header and story images courtesy of Wycliffe USA.
